Intermission, Entry 11

Intermission Entry 11, October 25^th, 2011, 9:54pm (GMT +0)

In a sign of acceptance from the rest of the orchestra, I have been fined a round of beers for an early entrance during our second show tonight. I'm glad that some rules are universal.

From the notebook, October 9^th

Already failed once tonight looking for a jam session in Paris. Well, not failed, exactly – I found the place, but it has been closed for a long time. Two blocks from the apartment I found a bricked-over storefront with a scrap of faded paint – “Ses Lezards” – over the doorway. No dice. Now I'm looking for a blues jam session at a place called the “Cave of Oblivion.” I'm not sure if that refers to the drinking habits of the patrons or some darker arcane ritual, but it should be interesting.

Later

Turns out that that's not actually the name of the club. The cave is in the basement of a place called “Le Taveau de Oubliettes,” and I haven't a clue what that means.

It's an old building, on the South side of the river within sight of Notre Dame. Down the street is a karaoke club where someone is singing “Imagine.” The club is literally a cave in the basement – a winding stone staircase deposits the customer among the arches of what probably used to be the wine cellar. An electric blues band is set up. There's a sign set up that says entrance is free, but you must buy six euro worth of booze to stay. This is why I'm sitting outside writing until the music starts – I want to make sure that it is worth the cash. “Ce soir” means this night, or tonight, right?

Ah, now they're singing “No Regrets” in the karaoke bar. Of course the Parisians would sing a song made famous by Edith Piaf.

A very large, strong Russian woman is standing out front of the blues club talking with her friends about “dropping social strata” if she became an English teacher. Forget English, she should play rugby . . .